I’ve been a golfer since I was in grade school. It wasn’t until I got much older that I appreciated watching televised games from the PGA tour and other golfing events that took place. I never understood how golf could create such an uproar and a reaction until last year. LIV Golf decided to be the next breakthrough team and go against the PGA pros. This caused conflict more than ever.
In a NY Times article, LIV Golf which was Saudi financed, launched in 2022. This was “an opportunity to reinvigorate golf” through large payouts, star players, and a creative marketing scheme. LIV created the slogan, “Golf but louder.” What was catching people’s attention, was the money. The payouts that LIV was offering were the highest in golf history. Each regular-season event’s total purse was 25 million dollars with a 20-million-dollar pot for individual events and an additional five million dollars more to split up team competition. Literally, more money than you would know what to do with. The winner’s share at each stop was four million dollars and if you placed last, don’t worry you’ll walk away 120,000 dollars richer. Phil Mickelson, winner of dozens of champions, and one of the greats of the game is currently a part of the team after leaving the PGA. He was offered by LIV Golf 200 million dollars to take part in this new team. Dustin Johnson, a high-ranked player, was offered 150 million dollars to sign on as well. Money talks people, and it plays the game of golf.
Currently, there is a drawback to how you can view any of LIV Golf’s events. If you want to see any coverage of their matches, you’ll have to tune on to their website, YouTube or Facebook. As for the PGA tour events, networks like ESPN, CBS, NBC and Amazon are in their first year of a nine-year contract agreement that has them collectively paying hundreds of millions of dollars annually to the PGA tour tournaments. Word is though, that the CW network is going to be taking on the LIV Golf team and broadcasting their coverage this year.
The LIV team consists of 48 players. Big names, former champions and all-time favorites make the roster. Names like Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Louis Oosthuizen and Graeme McDowell. Though this offer may have been enticing for some, many decided to keep their loyalty to the PGA. A name like Tiger Woods. Tiger Woods was offered nearly a billion dollars to sign with LIV Golf. As LIV became an offer that many PGA players were wanting to dabble in, the tour decided to take matters into its own hands.
The PGA suspended players that signed with LIV because it required members to request and receive a release to play in events that conflict with those on its schedule. The PGA signaled months before the hype of LIV started formulating that it would take action against any of its players that joined LIV. This would exclude them from events such as the Presidents Cup and Korn Ferry Tours. The only plus, both LIV and PGA members were able to participate in one of golf’s most prestigious events, The Masters. If you caught a glimpse of the action this past week and weekend, it was interesting to see them all together and the fierce competition.
My honest opinion about LIV is that it created a team that has perks, perks for golfers that mean the most like shorter schedules that gives them time to be with their families and lets be honest the pay isn’t too bad either. I do understand how the PGA wants to handle this by putting a restriction on the players that part ways, however, I hope they come to a consensus with PGA and give PGA players like Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas a chance to play events where both teams are welcomed, like The Masters. I think if they could find a happy medium it could make for great golf matches and overall great coverage for both teams.